Chicken wings are a popular appetizer that is eaten worldwide, and as a result, there are hundreds of different ways to make them.
Many popular chicken wing recipes originate from Southeast Asia, while America also has interesting takes on the wing. Chicken wings are one of the more affordable cuts of poultry. They’re hearty enough to be either the main course of a meal or an appetizer. Whether your tastes run savory, spicy, or sweet, there is sure to be a chicken wing recipe below that you and your family will enjoy.
20 Mouth-watering Chicken Wing Recipes Everyone Will Love
1. Bandit Chicken Wings
While many people may know some version of these spicy chicken wings or may have heard of them due to their popularity, not many may know where this recipe comes from. Bandit chicken wings hail from a famous noodle shop in Hong Kong. Their heady mixture of cumin, five-spice, and soy sauce will make you think of Chinese street food stalls. It’ll also make your entire house smell wonderful. Even though this recipe is Chinese, you should still find all of the ingredients at a standard grocery store. (via Christine’s Recipes)
2. Spicy Pineapple and Mango Chicken Wings
Sweet and spicy is a classic combo for chicken wing flavor pairings, and this fiery pineapple-and-mango marinade is created with that combination in mind. This recipe contains tropical fruit flavors to provide sweetness, but also contains a fair amount of powdered cayenne pepper that adds a kick of heat to keep things interesting. Fresh pineapple and mango can provide the best flavor, but frozen will work too in a pinch. Be sure to marinate for at least nine hours for the best possible flavor. (via Savory Spicerack)
3. Detroit Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Detroit hot honey wings are a Northeastern standard that is similar to New York’s buffalo wings except with honey added for a sweet and spicy kick. The spice level can be brought up or down by increasing or decreasing the amount of pepper added. This version also comes with an extra dose of cayenne to kick the heat up to the next level, so be sure to include a cream dip to cool things off. Honey comes in many different varieties and flavors, so do some experimenting to see which honey variety goes best with these wings. (via Trend Recipes)
4. Butter and Garlic Chicken Wings
For people who like a little more subtle flavor, butter and garlic have been a traditional wings flavor combination for decades. Another advantage of this recipe is that it is created from simple household ingredients so you won’t have to go out running to the store to get anything special for flavoring it. Despite its simplicity, this recipe is delicious enough that you aren’t likely to have any leftovers. Butter and garlic wings are also a good choice for kids or other picky eaters who might not be able to handle spicy chicken wing recipes. (via Gal on a Mission)
5. Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings
While deep-fried chicken wings are always delicious, there are many great baked chicken wing recipes that are easier to prepare. Along with being easy to make, they’re also a little healthier than fried wing recipes. These baked brown sugar chicken wings are perfect either as an appetizer or as a quick weeknight dinner along with a side and salad. Unlike some wing recipes, this recipe requires no overnight marinade, so it’s the king of last-minute meals. Take it to the next level by preparing the creamy roasted red pepper sauce for dipping. (via Damn Delicious)
6. Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Teriyaki chicken is one of the perennial classics of Asian cuisine, and it’s popular enough that no matter what Chinese restaurant you walk into in North America, chances are you’ll find it on the menu. This chicken wing recipe borrows all of the flavors of teriyaki chicken to turn out a killer appetizer. While the sauce used on these wings is a simple one, it’s the perfect complement to the crispy texture of the chicken skin. If you have to feed a crowd at a party, serving these teriyaki chicken wings is one way to make sure that everybody leaves full. (via Homemade Hooplah)
7. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
For those people that don’t like hot or barbeque sauces on their chicken wings, this garlic Parmesan recipe serves as a delicious alternative. It uses two different kinds of garlic as a pairing with tangy Parmesan cheese to create a crunchy texture that more saucy chicken wing recipes tend to lack. The fresh garlic isn’t tossed with the chicken wings until the last minute to prevent it from burning in the oven. (via The Kitchn)
8. Nashville Hot Chicken Wings
Despite being a relatively new American recipe, Nashville hot wings have taken the deep South by storm since their surge of popularity in Tennessee over the past eighty years. This recipe is a little more involved than most chicken wing recipes, involving both a buttermilk marinade and a pickle brine. However, these scrumptious and spicy wings are well worth the effort it takes to whip them up. (via Gimme Delicious)
9. Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wings
Crispy buffalo chicken wings are one of the most classic of all American chicken wing recipes, and this version is a great foundation that you can build off with your own twists and variations. Many chicken wing recipes claim to be crispy without frying, but this is one that manages to actually pull it off. Be sure to sure these wings with some cool creamy blue cheese or ranch dressing to help cut some of the heat. (via Cafe Delites)
10. Dr. Pepper Baked Hot Wings
Dr. Pepper cola might seem like a weird ingredient for a chicken recipe, but you have to try this one to believe how delicious it is. Drying the chicken before baking ensures a nice crispy texture. The sweet and tangy flavors of the cola are an awesome match for the savory flavor of the chicken fat, and the addition of buffalo sauce adds some welcome heat to help balance everything out. (via Food Folks and Fun)
11. Bang Bang Chicken Wings
Bang bang sauce is a sweet, spicy, creamy mayo-based sauce that has flavors of garlic and chilies mixed in. This sauce is amazing on everything, but it’s especially popular when it’s slathered over chicken or shrimp. In this chicken wing recipe, bang bang sauce is used in place of hot sauce or barbeque sauce for a unique appetizer that will have guests coming back to the table for seconds and thirds. (via Cooks Well with Others)
12. Maple Chili Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings
Bacon has the reputation of making everything better, and this maple chili bacon wrapped wing recipe is no exception to the rule. These wings are smoked to avoid overcooking the bacon and then seared off in a cast iron pan to add some crunchy goodness before serving. Maple syrup is used to caramelize the wings and give them a golden-brown crispy layer on the outside, while chili provides a punch of heat. (via Over the Fire Cooking)
13. Sticky Thai Chicken Wings
Thai cuisine is one of the most popular cooking styles in the world, and they have some especially good flavors that go well with chicken. Using traditional Thai flavors such as lemongrass, lime juice, fish sauce, and rice wine vinegar, these wings give you the chance to serve up something a little different at your next tailgate. Serve sprinkled with freshly chopped scallions and cilantro for an extra pop of herby flavor. (via Cafe Delites)
14. Empress Chicken Wings
If you are a fan of Chinese sesame chicken, these empress wings will be sure to please. Using a simple soy sauce and ginger marinade, these wings can be prepared in just fifteen minutes after they’ve been allowed to marinate for an hour. They’re also a good choice if you have limited ingredients since they can be made from spices you probably already have in your kitchen. If you’re trying to serve Chinese food at home to a gathering, empress wings are bound to be a crowd pleaser. (via Taste and Tell)
15. Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Lemon and chicken are one of the most traditional pairings in cooking. If you prefer dry rubs to saucy chicken wings, these lemon pepper wings are sure to be a hit. The amount of lemon pepper seasoning and black pepper can be adjusted for people who have a more sensitive palate or kids who need a more mild variation. These wings are served best when piping hot right out of the fryer. (via Dinner at the Zoo)
16. Smoked Paprika Chicken Wings
Smoked paprika is a great flavor combination with chicken, and the bright powdered paprika gives chicken wings a beautiful red color, too. These smoked paprika wings are perfect for lazy weeknight dinners since they only take about five minutes of preparation before you need to shove them in the oven and let heat do the rest of the work. For nights when you have absolutely no idea what to make, smoked paprika chicken wings come to the rescue. (via Jernej Kitchen)
17. Crispy Baked Orange Chicken Wings
Crispy orange chicken is a Chinese takeout classic. If you’re craving those flavors, these crispy baked orange chicken wings provide a way to satisfy your takeout urges while also keeping the meal a little bit lighter in grease and oil than your average fried orange chicken. A prep time of ten minutes plus fifty minutes of cooking time means this is a good recipe for a quick meal that you can set and forget. Baking these chicken wings on the top rack of the oven ensures that they’ll get as crispy as you need them to be. (via Just a Taste)
18. Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
Honey garlic wings are a popular flavor for people who might not like more spicy variations of chicken wings such as buffalo wings or Nashville hot wings. These wings contain a classic trio of Asian flavors: soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. The sauce only contains five ingredients, so it’s a good option if you’re not sure what to cook and you’re trying to improvise with stuff you already have around the kitchen. Reducing this recipe is the key to making sure it is thick and sticky enough to stick to the wings without running off. (via Spend with Pennies)
19. Coca-Cola Chicken Wings
Coca-Cola is the most popular soda in the world, but it isn’t just popular for drinking. This sugary brown beverage is the perfect base as a marinade for chicken, pork, and beef. In this chicken wing recipe, soda helps caramelize the wings and give them a sweet, tender flavor. Coca-cola chicken wings became popular in the 1990s, and their popularity hasn’t waned much in the thirty years since. (via The Walks of Life)
20. Jerk Chicken Wings
Jamaican jerk seasoning is a favorite spice combination used on chicken and it contains a variety of peppers and spices such as cinnamon, garlic, Scotch bonnet peppers, nutmeg, allspice, and thyme. This gives the wings a unique smoky flavor you won’t get from any kind of barbeque or buffalo sauce. Fresh peppers like jalapenos and herbs like cilantro can be chopped up and tossed with jerk wings to give them some extra aroma and flavor. (via Dinner, Then Dessert)
Chicken wings have won the hearts of the world as an appetizer and party food, but the versatility of this ingredient is why it continues to be so popular. For people who prefer not to have bones in their chicken, any of these sauce or spice combinations can also be used on boneless chicken wings or any other cut of chicken you like. Whether you want a complicated wing recipe with an overnight marinade and a reduced sauce or just a simple oven-baked dry rub, there’s a chicken wing recipe for just about every palate.
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